I'll Prove It!

We all know the feeling.  We are going to start our diets on "Monday."  We are going to start working out as soon as we aren't sick/have time/get new workout clothes/get a gym membership.

Nike may have said it best, but I think Brad and I say it better. 

Nike:  Just Do It.

Brad and April:  Go Nazi.

Either way you put it, it's a short way of saying "Suck it up and do this thing 100% without excuses."  Now, since my New Year's resolutions, and my "Making Babies Plan of Action" I've done pretty darn good.  Aside from the occassional weekend treat - I've been sticking to a diet that mainly consists of portion control.  Gee - like THAT'S hard with the Lap-Band...LOL!  Like I will have ONE Fresco Taco instead of 12.  Or HALF a tuna sandwich on flourless organic bread instead of Subway.

But it is still not making a difference, and I know EXACTLY why.

CARBS!

Yes, my friends.  Carbs.  If you're like me - you try to get around it by doing stuff like "Weight Watchers" or "LA Weight Loss" or "Nutri System."  Which is FINE for people without PCOS.  But if you are insulin resistant - I'm sorry.  We HAVE to suck it up and realize that our stupid bodies can't handle it, and that getting pregnant and losing weight DEPENDS on us not eating carbs like we usually do.  These diet plans allow for actually - a LOT of carbohydrates.  If we are being honest with ourselves, we know that this just won't work as well as the alternative.

So here's my plan.  I am going to PROVE to you, myself, and other women with PCOS that with a strict diet rich in water intake, vegetables, nuts, chicken, fish, & healthy fats, and very low in carbohydrates, red meat, soy, & sugar - I will literally just MELT the fat away.  To me, it seems VERY hard...as I always seem to have a reason, or a need to CHEAT, or stop the diet.  But I am going to document it!!  WITH PICTURES! AND VIDEOS!  And it will be awesome. 

Do you ever read all the things you are supposed to eat and do, and say "Heck yes! I am going to do it!" Then end up only half-assing it?  That's the story of my life.  I've only whole-assed it once, and I lost 20lbs in 20 days. 

5 Week Challenge
Goal:  Lose at least 10, but up to 25lbs.  (2 pounds/week is generally "safe" for those who need to lose a little weight, however for obese or morbidly obese people, losing more per week is okay according to my doctor.)

 - NO metformin.  Bleh!
 - 1000-1200 calories/day.
 - 30 full minutes of cardio 4 times per week. (Plus 5 min warm up.)
 - Under 20 carbs per day for 2 weeks. (Atkins Induction)
 - NO soda of any kind.
 - At least 80oz of water daily. (Take your weight, divide by two.  Drink this amount in ounces.)
 - NO caffeine.
 - NO soy.
 - NO artificial sugars other than Splenda.
 - At least 60-80 grams protein/day.
 - Low dairy intake - (usually I load up on cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, half&half, etc... while on a low carb diet, but I am going to limit this as the "Making Babies Plan of Action" suggests.)

Supplies:
- A gun.  Just in case...because this is going to make me want to kill myself. 
- A camera.  I will document my journey and the final result will be awesome!

Each day I will post a menu, which might get redundant and I'm sorry if it does.  But I can do whatever the heck I want on my own blog!!! HAHAHA!  I will also probably post some suicidal thoughts and ideas on what my life would be like with sugar in it.  *daydream*

I am currently still on Week 5 of the C25K, (trying to make up for being sick.)  But I'm doing well and did a 13 minute mile!! WOO!  I also did two miles in 29:20.  Don't laugh!!!  It was hard!  I wish I were 6'2" *sigh* 

Then and Now

I suppose it's probably beneficial to my mental health to gauge how far I've come rather than bash my self-esteem and complain about how bad I'm doing right NOW.

I've decided that I want to get to 143lbs exactly for now.  I would still be in the "overweight" category but that means I will have lost 100lbs.  100 FREAKING POUNDS on a girl who is only 5'2"!!!  Wouldn't that be cool if I could say "Oh, I lost 100lbs."  Yeah.  It would be. 

Highest weight: 243lbs ("Morbidly obese")
Lowest Weight: 184.4lbs ("Obese")
Current Weight: 190.2lbs (Still "obese")
2010 Goal: 160lbs (Puts me in the "overweight" category, and out of the "obese" category.)
Just Because Goal: 143lbs (At the lower end of the "overweight" category.)
"Healthy Weight" Goal: 130lbs (Puts me in the "healthy weight" range for my BMI.)

This was me....um...BEFORE. *barfs*  I think I was 225-230 here.  It's SO weird because I did NOT feel that big at all.  I mean - we won't go into the things I could and couldn't reach on my own body at this point...but MAN, you never realize it...

  This was me sometime during summer 2009.

This was me...uhh...like Fall 2009. Not much different.  I think I was just wearing bigger pants.

This is me today. I actually WEIGH more than I did in Fall 2009.  But with all the cardio I'm getting a little more toned.  I look kinda weirdly pregnant in the side photo.  Meh.

So there you have it. Since Brad and I don't live in the same town right now, it's obviously pointless to be charting, doing ovulation tests, etc... Therefore (and this post is coming soon) I am working on MYSELF. Sucking it up and realizing that I have PCOS and infertility because I am TOO FAT. That's it. I need to realize it. Anyone who is TTC with PCOS and is overweight also needs to realize it.  Taking tons of pills, injecting ourselves, etc...etc... isn't the FIRST thing we need to be doing.  We need to get to a healthier weight first.  It sucks, but it's a simple idea that only requires one thing - DISCIPLINE! 

Sorry for the angry rough-talk.  It's just that when you KNOW what you need to do, yet lack the will and strength to do it, it gets frustrating.  It's not like I'm laying on the couch eating cake all day (okay like 1% of the time I will do that...) but I'm not Going Nazi or anything.

And that is my next post.  :D

Updates!! Lots and Lots of Updates!

How could I, APRIL of all people, NOT blog for almost a whole month here?

Well, because nothing exciting has happened! LOL!!!  To sum it up, I've been working out, but eating a lot, therefore I am STILL bouncing around at 189 - 192 lbs.  While I DO have the Lap-Band, it doesn't prevent head hunger...and frankly that might be the only reason I ever eat anything.  I'm proud that all my working out has paid off and definitely made me stronger, and more toned.  I've noticed a HUGE difference in the size of my tummy from doing all this cardio!!  But I seriously need to re-think my diet or I will NEVER lose any weight. *frustrated* 

I am NOT taking any metformin or pretnatal vitamins (just regular gummies), and to tell you the truth it's kind of nice!  My "digestive" system doesn't bother me...I'm regular...(no metformin diarrhea, yay!) And I don't really notice a difference not taking the prenatals vs. a gummy.  The gummies have folic acid too - so I might just use those instead. Chewing pills with the Lap-Band is GROSS!

I'm AM super excited that I had a PERIOD on my own January 18th. I think I've had a total of 5 - 10 periods my entire life that were "natural" and not induced with birth control or some sort of fertility med.

I've been doing the "Couch to 5K Running Program" - and it's pretty much the best thing I've ever done!!  It's starts you off slowly, and gradually builds up your running ability.  It was relatively challenging at first, then became easy as the first week wore on.  I wanted to do MORE running, but the program says to avoid straining yourself.  I went from running a mile in like 16 minutes, to running a mile in 14:30.  I realize most people could WALK that - but I have short legs! And I jog at 4.0 MPH, and run at 5.0 MPH.  When I used to run, I would push way too hard, hurt my knees, then stop working out. This gradually gets you up to a good pace, and it certainly has for ME! I LOVE running!



For three solid weeks I worked out almost daily for 30 minutes a day!  THEN I GOT SICK.  I've been sick for 11 flippin' days - but I feel like I'm getting a little better.  I've been coughing up my left lung basically, so that's why I'm hesitant to start again.  But I need to, or else I will have to start all over!!!

Bradley was watching Oprah the other day (you just have to know my husband to realize this is normal) and they were discussing PCOS. It's the leading cause of infertility in America - and 90% of people with PCOS can reverse and stop the effects with diet and exercise. Furthermore, they discussed how exercise does more than just make you fit… apparently your muscles have the ability to treat insulin differently when they are stronger and being utilized. Instead of becoming resistant to the insulin (causing PCOS), your body learns to use the produced insulin. Therefore making your ovaries work. Apparently.

People place so much emphasis on eating right while trying to get pregnant with PCOS. (Or get pregnant in general.) Low carbs, lots of protein, no soy, etc...etc... (which is STILL way important) but we rarely hear about the benefits of getting LOTS of exercise.

I don’t mean strolling a mile or two each day (though that is better than nothing…). I’m talking about challenging cardio, muscle toning Pilates, yoga…

Honestly, I was scared to workout while actively trying to conceive. The last thing I want is my uterus bouncing all around while spermie and egg are trying to embrace. So I took it slow and easy. I also didn’t want to miscarry all over the yoga mat while doing ab crunches.

Now it’s different. Since we’re working on our bodies it’s much easier to push myself, make myself stronger, and not worry about anything else. If my body is strong and healthy, the baby will be too.

I went to the maternity store with my friend and put on the "fake" belly they have in the dressing room.  If anything will motivate me to LOSE WEIGHT before getting pregnant - this is it.  I looked like a complete COW!!!  *sigh*  I really DO want to be CUTE and pregnant so I can take tons of pictures - especially afer the baby is born.  There will be so many snapshot flying around at that time - I need to look like a MILF!

My goal before going on any fertility meds, or trying again is to be 160lbs.  That's still a good 30lbs, but if I REALLY push myself I bet I could get there by May. 

Bradley and I have decided that he is going to get a semen analysis as soon as possible, and I might get an HSG.  Is that where they put the dye in your uterus to see if your tubes are blocked?  That's what I want.  LOL!  We think it's better just to rule out anything before we continue. 

Wish me ~~~~*~*~*~~*~**Baby Dust~~~~***~****~*~*~*~*~***~**~